There are hordes of flooring options in the market these days. Hardwood flooring is one of the most popular and if you have gone as far as choosing between the solid type of the engineered kind, then you are deep into picking the right kind of material for your wooden flooring. Solid vs. engineered wood flooring choices has been around for so long, ever-competing for homeowners' attention. Knowing the pros and cons for each one should help you get the largest return for your investment.
First, the solid hardwood – this is often of of an inch thick and has been milled from just one piece of wood. This hardwood's thickness means it can be sanded down then refinished many times throughout the furniture's life.
Since solid hardwood is made of just one piece of wood, it is probable that the changes in humidity levels can cause the wood to expand or contract. In the long run, this can also lead to warping. So you will not have to worry about this issue, make sure to put solid hardwood furniture inside rooms that are not exposed to the elements or humidity such as basements, bathrooms and kitchens.
Engineered hardwood, on the other hand, usually has three to five layers of wood that have been bonded together with the use of pressure and heat. This kind of wood tends to cost less than the solid hardwood type since the only layer that need to have a hundred-percent hardwood is the top one. The bottom layers are already engineered pieces. The more layers that an engineered hardwood has, then more times that it can be finished.
Which to Pick?
Now that you know the pros and cons of solid and engineered wood flooring, it's time to make your choice. First, you always need to consider your location. Keep in mind that any surface that is located below ground level has greater risk of being exposed to moisture, hence, solid hardwood flooring is unsuitable.
Rooms that are located below the ground such as sunken living rooms or basements are better off with engineered hardwood flooring.
Next, you need to consider the function of the room. If you are certain that the room will be exposed to moisture such as in the case of a kitchen or a bathroom, then it is best to install engineered hardwood flooring.
The third thing that you need to think about is the kind of subfloor that you will install. Given a subfloor of plywood, then your option is a toss between solid wood and engineered wood, meaning, you can use whichever you prefer. With a concrete flooring, then the option has to be engineered wood floor.
Now that you know the factors involved in choosing between solid vs. engineered wood flooring, it is time to know why you should settle for wood and not any other kind of material –
- First, quality wooden floors can last for a very, very long time. Those who choose to cover a concrete flooring with carpets end up replacing their carpet every five years or so. This can be an expensive journey to take.
- Wood floors are a lot easier to clean than rugs or carpets. Just light space or brush the wooden floors and they will already look great.
- Solid or engineered wood flooring are both hygienic. Compared to carpets, they are less likely to become home for parasites. If you have allergies, then having a wooden floor is better than having carpets installed.
- Unpleasant odors can also be dispelled since wood is hygienic.
- If you want to install under floor heating soon, then the best material to have is a wooden floor.
Sanding and sealing can make wood floors look new even after years of scratching, wearing and tearing.